Tracy Souza: Farmer, teacher cultivate scholars

A lifelong farmer and his wife, a dedicated Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. teacher, decided to give back to their community by leaving an estate gift to fund a scholarship.

Albert, the farmer, graduated from Purdue’s School of Agriculture in 1941 and wife Jane taught for many years in BCSC, earning a Sagamore of the Wabash award for her devotion to teaching. In 2004, their estate established a very generous scholarship for a Bartholomew County resident attending the Purdue School of Agriculture.

The initial scholarship awarded from the fund was $6,500. Since that first award, the fund has grown to provide $30,000 in scholarships this year, benefiting both a graduating high school senior for four years and a current Purdue student for two years. It was also the first HFBC fund to reach $1 million in 2021, demonstrating the power of wisely invested endowed funds.

Robert Finkel, a first cousin of J. Albert and Irma Jane, is the donor representative. Robert owns the adjacent farm and takes special pride in presenting these scholarships that are often awarded to longstanding Bartholomew County farm families.

Robert has been known to surprise the recipients by making the announcement with poster-size award checks at FFA banquets or family events.

Continuing a special legacy like the J. Albert and Irma Jane Finkel Scholarship is a meaningful way to keep the memory of much-loved family members alive while creating an opportunity for a young person.

Heritage Fund holds more than 90 scholarships, and each was established with its own criteria by individuals, families or friends who wanted to provide a way for a deserving student to go to college.

Scholarships are a wonderful way to do “Your Philanthropy, Your Way.” Heritage Fund is honored to carry out the wishes of our donors and support terrific people like Robert in making the presentation of these scholarships something special to celebrate.